had occasion to write him a despatch" on public business, and he sent, at the same time, a private letter, in which he told him how the mirror which once belonged to him had been smashed by Lord Melville's ram.

10. The ambassador read the letter to the king, who was much diverted by the story, and said that Lord Melville should have another Spanish mirror as good as that which had been destroyed. So he sent him a very fine one from one of his own palaces. After it had arrived, Mr. Pitt gave the king the snuff-box which had been made from Will's horn. of Lord Melville's ram.

DISTINGUISHED. Celebrated, famous, illustrious, eminent. SAUNTERING. Wandering lazily. 8 MIRROR. Looking-glass. 4 AMBASSADOR. A person sent by a king or president to reside in another country, to protect the interests of the state from which he

comes.

CHALLENGING. Daring, defying.

And so ends the story

6 TREMENDOUS. Terrible, violent. HAVOC. General destruction, waste. 8 PRIME MINISTER. The chief of the ministry or body of men selected by the king or queen of England as a council in the government of the country.

9 ENCOUNTER. A meeting in contest. 10 DESPATCH. A letter or message sent on business in haste.

1. "WILL you walk into my parlor ?" said the spider to

the fly;

""Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did

spy';

The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to show when you

are there."

"O, no, no," said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain; For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

2. "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to

the fly.

"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you

in."

“O, no, no,” said the little fly; " for I've often heard

it said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your

bed."

3. Said the cunning spider to the fly, "Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection' I've always felt for

you?

I have within my pantry good store of all that's

nice;

I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to take a slice?"

66

"O, no, no," said the little fly; "kind sir, that cannot be;

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see."

4. "Sweet creature," said the spider, "you're witty and you're wise;

4

How handsome are your gauzy wings! how brilliant

are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf; If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, " for what you're pleased to say,

And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another

day."

5. The spider turned him round about, and went into

his den;

For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back

again :

So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did

sing,

"Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple; there's a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond' bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

6. Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flit

ting by!

With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;

Thinking only of her crested head-poor foolish thing! At last,

Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast!

He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal

den,

Within his little parlor-but she ne'er came out

again.

7. And now, dear little children, who may this story

read,

To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne'er give

heed;

Unto an evil counsellor 10 close heart, and ear, and eye, And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

1. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN was born in Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, January 17, 1706. His father was a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler, and he was the youngest son, and the youngest child but two, of a very large family.

2. Boston, at the time of Franklin's birth, was a

much smaller place than it is now; but it was a considerable town, containing about eighteen thousand inhabitants, and it had public schools, as it has now. He showed an early taste for reading, and his father desired to educate him for the ministry. With that view he was sent to a grammar school when he was eight years old, and rose rapidly in his class.

3. But in less than a year he was removed to another school, where he might learn writing and arithmetic, as his father, who had a large family to support, was not rich enough to give him the expensive education which would have been necessary to fit him to be a clergyman. Here he learned to write a very good hand, but did not get on very well in arithmetic. When he was ten years old, he was taken away from school to assist his father in his business; and he never went to school any more.

4. Little Franklin disliked his father's trade, and wanted very much to go to sea; but his father would not give his consent. He was very fond of the water, and learned to swim well, and to manage boats-very much as Boston boys do now.

5. He continued with his father about two years; but his distaste for the business rather increased than diminished. He also showed a growing fondness for reading, spending in books all the money he could get; and it was finally concluded that he should be bound apprentice' to his brother James, who was a printer.

6. This employment was more to his taste than his father's trade. He had to work hard, but he was a healthy, strong, and cheerful boy, and work did not tire him very much; and he had a chance of indulging his strong love of reading. "Often," says he, "I sat